Covid 19 & Vaccinations
An additional 567 cases of Covid 19 have been registered in Sutton Coldfield for the week of 12th - 18th November compared to an updated figure of 390 for the week of 5th - 11th November based on data from Birmingham City Council’s public health division.
In the 7 days up to 18th November, there were 3,312 cases in Birmingham (290.4 cases/100k population), an increase compared to 2,924 cases (256.4/100k population) in the previous week.
Over the 7 days leading up to 18th November, of 22,882 PCR pillar 2 tests 2,870 (12.5%) were positive in Birmingham, marginally higher than the positivity rate for West Midlands, but lower than the rate for England as a whole.
Birmingham is 14th in the region for pillar 2 PCR testing rates, with 2,006 tests per 100k population. Birmingham is 13th in the region for pillar 2 PCR tests rates with 2,513 tests per 100k population. 46,114 LFD pillar 2 tests were also carried out.
The attached image shows the number of first and second vaccines per age group for Sutton Coldfield from data published yesterday.
Walk-in appointments are taking place at a mass vaccination centres across the Birmingham City Council area for those aged 16 and over. Please check the latest availability via: www.birminghamandsolihullcovidvaccine.nhs.uk/walk-in over 16s can also continue to book in advance online as normal including bringing forward your second dose if your appointment is more than 8 weeks from your first vaccine: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination.
As part of our close surveillance of variants across the world, we have become aware of the spread of a new potentially concerning variant, which UKHSA has designated a Variant under Investigation.
That is why from midday today, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia will be added to the UK’s travel red list. Passengers arriving in England from 4am on Sunday will be required to book a hotel quarantine facility for 10 days. Those arriving from these six countries between midday Friday and 4am Sunday, and who have been in these countries within the last 10 days, must quarantine for 10 days and take NHS PCR tests on Day 2 and Day 8, even if they already have a lateral flow test booked.
We are taking precautionary action to protect public health and the progress of our vaccine rollout at a critical moment as we enter winter, and we are monitoring the situation closely.
Royal Sutton Coldfield Updates
On Monday I spoke to the Sutton Coldfield Eco Churches group about the Government’s plans following the recent COP26 summit in Glasgow. COP26 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
I am deeply disappointed that our recently elected Labour Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, is forging ahead with plans, drawn up by the previous Labour incumbent, to close our Police Station and move resources to Birmingham.
The police station, which has been the base for the Royal Town’s constabulary since 1960, was put on “death row” following an Estates Strategy Review by the West Midlands Police. And now the rubber stamping by Mr. Foster means the death knell rings for Sutton’s Police Station.
I am horrified at this disgraceful Labour decision which has been bitterly opposed by virtually everyone in our Royal Town. I recall that at the centre of Jay Singh-Sohal, the Conservative candidate to be PCC earlier this year was a firm commitment, not only to keep a Police Hub in the Royal Town but to allocate more resources to it. We will not easily forget this act by Labour against our Royal Town.
Stars in our Schools is saying a big thank you to support staff in our schools today. Support staff have always been crucial to the education and wellbeing of children in our schools but never more so than over the past 18 months during the pandemic - keeping schools open throughout to support the most vulnerable children and those of other keyworkers.
Admin and catering staff have been vital to ensuring the provision of free school meals, classroom staff have adapted to new ways of helping all children continue to learn whether at school or home, and site staff have worked tirelessly to implement safety measures to keep schools open. They have gone above and beyond to keep schools running smoothly and safely, and now they are playing a key role in helping children catch up on lost learning. School support staff are vital to the effective running of a school but this is not often recognised as they are usually tucked away behind the scenes. They are the unsung heroes of our children’s education and I would like to send a huge thank you to all our local support staff.
Following the news that Bulb has gone into administration, I have received information from Bulb to say that they want to stress that affected customers do not need to worry. Their supply will continue, and any outstanding credit balances, including money owed to customers who have recently switched, will be honoured.
Bulb customers do not need to do anything (I am a Bulb customer in the Royal Town). Bulb will still be their supplier. Customers will receive bills and energy supplies as usual. Bulb will contact its customers over the coming days about the changes.
The Special Administrator has been appointed under the mechanism known as a Special Administration Regime (SAR). Teneo will manage the supplier throughout the period of administration and will be supported by the government.
The administrator will continue to run the company until they can rescue the company or transfer the customers to other suppliers. The administrator will communicate clearly to customers if they will be transferred to another supplier at a later date. www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/ofgem-statement-bulb-message-customers
Westminster news and Parliamentary business
This week I have attended a requiem mass at Westminster Cathedral in memory of Sir David Amess MP, it was a moving ceremony and a fitting tribute for Sir David (we had neighbouring offices in Westminster for the last eight years).
I also I took part in the debate on the Health and Care Bill. I supported Jeremy Hunt’s workforce amendment which if passed would have required the Government to ensure the NHS is training enough doctors and nurses to meet future healthcare demands. Regrettably the government did not accept the amendment. https://www.andrew-mitchell-mp.co.uk/parliament/andrew-mitchell-speaks-support-amendment-prepare-assessments-future-health-and-care
I spoke to Alberto Costa MP about his new Private Members’ bill which would require manufacturers to fit microplastic-catching filters in all new domestic and commercial washing machines. Research indicates that a single 6kg washing load can release up to 700,000 microfibres into wastewater systems. I support Alberto’s Bill.
Emergency workers will receive greater protection from violent criminals after the Government confirmed ‘Harper’s Law’ will be added to the statute book. The law will introduce mandatory life sentences for anyone convicted of killing an emergency worker whilst committing a crime.
New homes and buildings including supermarkets and workplaces, as well as those undergoing major renovation, will be required to install electric vehicle charge points from next year, under new legislation announced by Prime Minister on Monday.
On Wednesday I attended Birmingham City Council’s ‘Levelling Up Birmingham: Delivering a Golden Decade of Opportunities Parliamentary Reception’ which launched the city's proposals in Parliament and to offer to collaborate and work with Government to ensure that levelling-up is a success.
The council has published a 54-page levelling up strategy, highlighting the city's "exceptional opportunities" such as the Commonwealth Games due to be held in Birmingham next year, and the HS2 high speed rail network coming to the region.
Together with Preet Kaur Gill MP, I am setting up a new All-Party Parliamentary Group to fight for Birmingham in Parliament to make sure it receives the support it needs.
Yesterday, I called on the Home Secretary to ensure that the intelligence and security services work with their international counterparts to tackle the criminal gangs of people smugglers who are the modern day equivalent of the slave traders. I also asked the Home Secretary if there was any reason to object to processing asylum claims at all British embassies so those who are successful, who are a significant majority of those arriving by boat, can come here in a legal and humane way rather than risking their lives just for the chance to file paperwork. https://youtu.be/b2sR8LogvRo
Opportunities and Events
The Birmingham 2022 Festival, a six-month celebration from March to September in 2022, which will spotlight creativity and culture in the West Midlands as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. It will feature hundreds of creative commissions across the region including art, photography, dance, theatre, digital art and more. As part of this, Generations is looking for four and five generation families to take part and to be photographed for an exhibition during our Birmingham 2022 Festival. To find out more about how you and your family can be involved please visit: https://bit.ly/323MlBG
The West Midland’s Combined Authority has launched the New Find your Future website which brings together job and training opportunities in the West Midlands to help adults find training, education and job opportunities:-https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/find-your-future/
The Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card can make a real difference to people looking for work by allowing jobseekers to travel to interviews at 50% of the normal price. The discount card is available to those claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit for between 3-9 months (for those aged between 18-24) or 3-12 months (for those aged 25 and over). To increase the use of the discount card Rail Delivery Group is working with Government to raise awareness of it with those seeking work through the media, employment charities and organisations, and Jobcentre Plus work coaches.
If your organisation has a defibrillator, you are being urged to register your device on a new national database, called The Circuit, which could help save thousands of lives from cardiac arrests in the coming years.
There are more than 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK, but less than one in ten people survive. Every minute that passes without CPR or defibrillation reduces the chances of survival by up to 10 per cent, but immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF), Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) St John Ambulance and Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), warn that the UK’s low survival rate is likely to be in part because public access defibrillators are used in less than one in 10 out of hospital cardiac arrests. This is often because 999 call handlers aren’t always aware that a defibrillator is available nearby because the ambulance service hasn’t been told about it. If they don’t know it is there, they can’t direct someone at the scene to retrieve it while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Guardians can register their device on by visiting https://www.thecircuit.uk/
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